Stampeders training camp preview: Wait, What Happened?

I’ve been away for the last little visiting my Big Brother and he’s pretty picky about cell phones in the house. After a brief 80 days, I emerged back into the world to find out it had flipped upside down from a Stampeders perspective.

Quarterback Andrew Buckley retired, as did linebacker Deron Mayo as well as offensive linemen Roman Grozman and Pierre Lavertu. That came on the heels of losing Dan Federkeil and Rob Cote to retirement and the whirlwind trade day of Charleston Hughes who eventually landed is Saskatchewan alongside Jerome Messam, who left as a free agent to Saskatchewan. Not to mention Marquay McDaniel moving on and Tommie Campbell signing in Montreal.

Finally, Roy Finch was placed on the retired list after an altercation with police that I learned about from Dave Dickenson at Fanfest here in Calgary Saturday morning. It was a slightly awkward conversation for me, having only returned to the real world about 12 hours prior. Especially because he jokingly asked for my autograph first…

After waving the pen away, I was shocked and saddened to learn about what happened with Finch.

All this tells me that the Stampeders will be a very different squad from last year’s West Division champs, but are the expectations changing? My quick answer is no. I know, shocking right?

Year after year, the Stampeders have had one of the highest player turnover ratios and yet, year after year, they have continued to dominate the regular season standings. The organization led by John Hufnagel has been the model of consistency for the last decade. The Stampeders have won 13 or more games in 7 of 10 seasons and there is no one currently on the roster from the 2008 team meaning the Stamps have gotten the most from their team no matter who has been on the field.

Let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing questions headed into this weekend’s training camp on the offensive side of the ball:

The Running Game

The last few seasons it has been Jerome Messam carrying the mail here in Calgary providing not only a consistent yards-per-carry average, but also a valuable passport as the national running back allowed flexibility elsewhere. This season, the job is wide open.

The front-runner at the moment may be Terry Williams. Despite it being against the Montreal Alouettes, Willims had 157 yards and 3 TD’s in his only start last season. New to this year’s roster are Don Jackson, Romar Morris and newly acquired Rushel Shell III. All three of these players will be competing with the incumbent Williams whose job is there for the taking should he not be able to grab it during camp.

Backup QB

Ricky Stanzi certainly has the inside track this season but did little to inspire confidence last year throwing two interceptions in just eight regular-season attempts. The retirement of Andrew Buckley may be the most significant roster move this season after the loss of Roy Finch.

Nick Arbuckle has been around the team for a few years now while Tyler Rogers makes an intriguing prospect for the short yardage team with 14 rushing touchdowns in his college career.

Offensive Line

The line will look quite familiar and we see Randy Richards, Shane Bergman, Ucambre Williams, Brad Erdos and Spencer Wilson pencilled in as starters for now.

After that, the Stamps welcome back former Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Derek Dennis as well as Quinn Smith and will be hoping that first round draft pick Ryan Sceviour can slide into one of the spots left vacant by interior lineman Grozman and Lavertu.

There may still be some ratio shuffling here if Wilson doesn’t secure the tackle spot, but he has played well there when needed.

Receiver

Not much change here with the notable exception of McDaniel’s departure. That loss should be tempered by the return of Lemar Durant, who is being eased into camp following a knee injury suffered last year. The combination of Durant, DaVaris Daniels, Kamar Jorden and Marken Michel alongside Juwan Brescacin, Anthony Parker and Reggie Begelton should mean a lot of familiar options for Bo Levi Mitchell.

I’ll be back to look at the defence in a day or two but I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank you all for your support as I took my reality show journey. Canada voted to save me in overwhelming numbers and the CFL community was a huge part of that. It was a humbling moment for this neophyte blogger and it meant the absolute world to me.

Welcome home Ryan
Ok be honest, outside of Finch did any of these changes really shock you? Given the injury issues and the well known fact Buckley wanted to go to medical school I’d say they were all expected to one degree or another.

The Stamps have a good receiving group with Daniels, Jorden & Michel along with a good group of Nationals who are really big. Are they a better team this year on offence? No. McDaniels was the go to guy on 2nd down. They had to replace Messam at some point & I think this was the year to do it but have no known RB in the wings. When Joffrey Reynolds was let go, Cornish was already there, ready to go. The backup QB situation is the elephant in the room. There is no safety net behind BLM. BLM is the one player the Stamps can’t afford to lose. As he goes, the Stamp season goes. Still a top contender to win the West.

Red your reading comprehension isn’t that good is it? Ryan clearly states he’s shocked but you don’t believe it. I’m a Stamps fan and we have a lot of holes to fill and work to do. I’m anticipating 3rd place this season.

Agree with you 100% Vert. I feel sorry for the guy. Please know he doesn’t represent the Stamps fan base as a whole because I’ve never seen such backtracking and contradictory statements so consistently.

When will people learn. The names on the backs of the Jerseys in Calgary is irrelevant. No matter how many injuries, changes this team endures that keep winning. I see no reason why that wouldn’t continue.

When will you learn the Stamps are a me first team. So yeah, they care about their names on the back of THEIR jerseys. You act like these guys actually give a hoot about you. It’s a job man, and given two (should be 3) GC losses they don’t play for each other or the team. There is zero leadership in Calgary.

Stamps were BY FAR the best team in the league in 2016 and again in 2017. Inexcusable for them to come away with ZERO Grey Cups to show for it.

Calgary players spent the 2016 Grey Cup week hitting the clubs and bars in Toronto until all hours of the morning. That’s an absolute lack of leadership among the players as well as the coaching staff.

Having a player KTFO a coach during the 2017 Grey Cup is another complete lack of leadership. And the ensuing finger pointing by McDaniel as well as the DB coach who whined about how “they fumbled away MY championship” just further shows how pisspoor the Stamps “leadership” really was.

Great comment 51. Ive always thought it unfortunate that the Stamps have nothing to show for the last 2 years and that would aggravate me if I were a Stamps fan. Ive said a few times I hope they can win it all before their window closes for the fans sake, but this offseason may have slammed it shut!

Wrong again. But nice try spinning. I never said a thing about Ryan. He actually did a good job of putting into perspective how much happened in such a short period of time. Read the article again. You might understand after a second read.

Just like how you are denying how pathetic Stamps leadership in the locker room is. Do you have ANY ammo besides “but but but Chris Jones”. Just enjoy the games and quit trying to make your empty Doritos bag analysis.

Hey Red you were doing so well with the displaying the records for us, but you forgot to show the Cup record properly of 0-2. Ask any athlete (not that you come into contact with any in your momma’s basement) and they would tell you that it is the only record that matters. Sorry……not sorry

Losing Andy Buckley is about as insignificant as it gets. Aside from having ZERO impact on the NI ratio, let’s be honest – – if Levi Mitchell were to get hurt and miss significant time, there’s no way in hell that the Little Gimp would become the new starter.

The Stamps would bring a QB in off the street before they they made the same mistake they did in the 2016 Grey Cup of putting the game in the hands of the Little Gimp.

Fortunately for the Stamps quality Import RBs are a dime a dozen so they should easily be able to find a replacement for Messam. They’ve got enough NI talent to withstand the ration change at RB with Messam gone.

I can’t understand why so many people refuse to look at their favourite teams/players objectively.

I’d be apoplectic if my team had two consecutive historic choke jobs in the Grey Cup like the Stamps. There’s no question they were infinitely more talented than any other team in the CFL. Anything less than a championship – – ESPECIALLY after the 2016 debacle – – could only be viewed as an abject failure and a totally wasted season.

But instead Calgary Fan wants to wave pom poms about how wonderful those two runner up finishes were.

Calgary might be okay this season, but 2019 could get bad
Bo Levi Mitchell is set to become a free agent then. He has had phenomenol success in the CFL and is still young. I bet some NFL teams have noticed and might make him a lucrative offer.
Many past Stampeders QBs have made the jump to the NFL including Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, Henry Burris, Erik Kramer, Joe Pisarcik, Peter Liske and even Ben Sankey. Other than Flutie, BLM is better than any of the others.

Even if Mitchell diesn’t get a cimpelling enough offer from south of the border, I woukd guess that at least five or six of the other clubs might make big offers for his services.

If Calgary has to go into 2019 with Ricky Stanzi and Nick Arbuckle at the controls, Calgary can forget about having their team play in the Grey Cup when Calgary hosts the Grey Cup in 2019.

Fair point
But as our rider brethren tell us all the time; BLM isn’t good enough for the NFL, and his reputation as a choker plus his injured shoulder, makes other CFL team hesitant to sign him as well.
I guess we’ll be stuck with him well beyond 2019, poor us.

Bullsh*t Red. Any Rider fan (or CFL fan for that matter) that tells you they don’t want BLM on their team is lying to you. He is far and away the best QB in the CFL and will be until proven otherwise. (Ray and Reilly close 2nd) I agree with Leslie. – He could get an offer from the NFL. Hell, if Burris did when he was younger, why couldn’t the most successful regular season CFL QB?! I’d cheer BLM on in the NFL.

Sorry Bleeding, I’ll take Reilly any day and a healthy Ray. Actually I feel Reilly is the best the league has seen in 10-15 years including AC. A well rounded QB, a fantastic leader, and just someone I would want to play for. For me Reilly is in a category with Allen and Flutie, but even more of a warrior.

I wouldn’t be too worried about losing Mitchell to the NFL. Coming out of college didn’t even get a sniff – – that should pretty much tell you how little the NFL thinks of him.

Too small and too weak of an arm.

And Mitchell knows it. If he had legit NFL aspirations, WTF did he lock himself up for FOUR (4) years when he signed that new contract back in 2015? He was 25yrs old then – – prime age to head to the NFL – – and will be 29 by the time his contract runs out in Calgary.

As far as comparisons go, Garcia and Burris were light years better than Mitchell. Garcia had a mediocre arm, but his accuracy was off the charts and was tough as all hell. The guy was a FOUR (4) time pro bowl QB.

Burris has always had a rocket arm and that’s what NFL teams are always salivating over. He had decent accuracy but his biggest undoing was having mental breakdowns at the worst possible moments.

Burris’ mental breakdown on that snap in the 2013 grey cup was hilarious. The look on his face! Your statement is right on target . Bo is a good QB, but not good enough for the nfl and will never be as good as garcia, or have the longevity of burris.

BLM in the NFL? Not a snowball’s chance in hell. He’s put down roots on Cowtown and is content choking and cashing his cheques much to the delight of Red! We’re number 2! We’re number 2! And in Red’s case he just is a number 2.

Bo was a Grey Cu champion at 24 and a league MOP at 26. Bo’s got many years of football in him and the truth is, Huff and him already have something in the works. Bo was well on his way to a second Grey Cup MVP except for an untimely fumble.
In 2016, Bo brought Calgary back in the 4th quarter and left them in a position to win it.
Just turned 28, taking Ricky Ray out of the equation, Bo has as much Grey Cup experience as all CFL QB’s combined!!!! and is the youngest starter in the league to boot!!!!!!

Area 51:
Bo Levi Mitchell might not have gotten a lot of interst from the NFL when he came out of college, but what does that prove? How much attention did Warren Moon or Cameron Wake get?
The NFL overlooks talented players all the time and
Over rates others. Do the names Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel and Ryan Leaf ring a bell?
Mitchell will be 29 in 2019, which isn’t old. Dieter Brock was one of the best CFL quarterbacks ever. He finally joined an NFL team at the age of 35 and became the starter with the Los Angeles Rams. I believe he even was chosen as top “rookie”.

As for Brandon Bridge, he is clearly headed for stardom. If you can’t see that, you must be watching the wrong guy.

Reilly is a leader, teammates like him and they seem to like Maas. It’s about attitude. Players are starting to leave Calgary because of Dizzy and Moe, and their holier than thou attitude. Honestly, Huff needs to put an end to it fast. None of that was happening when he was coach.

who’s leaving Calgary?
Calgary resigned every priority free agent except possibly Tommy Campbell and that’s only because Montreal threw money at him.
Muambre himself said teammates through out his time in the CFL (both BC and Sask) have told him Calgary is the best team to play for

You keep telling yourself that and eventually it’s your truth. A didn’t realize Muambre is the league standard. If so, that’s another bunch of problems you have. Anyway, be honest for once. If you could choose a qb to lead your team would it be Bo or Reilly? Remember, be honest, no red glasses allowed this time.

No they don’t provide examples , they provided rhetoric “watch how he carries himself on the sidelines” is not an example.
I just provided 2 examples of him showing leadership in important games.
DO THE SAME

In response to your 11:15 comment
Mrambure’s experiences with other players is just as valid as anyone’s..- wow, that really bugged you though; didn’t it?

Who would I rather lead my team, Bo or Reilly?
Honestly you can’t be wrong with either, but given Bo is 5 years younger and has, in truth, accomplished more in this league, I’d go with Bo.
And I bet if you asked every GM in the league, the vast majority would say the same.

If Bo became available tomorrow, you think Chris Jones wouldn’t try to pick him up within 10 seconds?? I bet Jones would cut Collaros in a New York second if he signed him.

As the Stumps fall to earth all will rejoice only because of the loser fans that populate this site. Arrogant teams eventually turn on themselves, and we saw this happen during the GC last year. 4th place at best.

Huff’s Neighbor – Don’t think we can lump all Stamp fans with manyhandles. This site should be about the game, and a little friendly banter is expected. Red Green is a cancer of epic proportions, who is an embarrassment to his own fan base and the city of Calgary.

I’m surprised people can’t recognize the leadership qualities of Reilly are far superior to Mitchell’s.

Toughness is a big part of leadership and there’s no QB in the league that’s tougher than Mike Reilly. He takes some hellacious hits and never complains. Just gets right back up and calls the next play. Anyone think Mitchell could withstand the kind of hits that Reilly takes? Hahaha…he’d be snapped in half.

You’ll never see Reilly getting into pissing matches on social media with other players or opposing fan bases. WTF is Mitchell stooping to that level and wasting his time for?

You’ll also never see Reilly tattling like a little puss about perceived transgressions of other teams.

Nor will you see Reilly call out his teammates or coaches in the media like Mitchell did after the Little Gimp cost them the 2016 Grey Cup – – “The ball’s got to be in my hands”.

Calgary simply didn’t care about the Carter pick 6 game. Why can’t you get that through your heads. It meant nothing. Better to save energy energy for the playoffs.
You should thank us. It’s the 2nd biggest highlight in team history.

Riddle me this Yup, You argue that Calgary is screwed having lost their back up QB, yet you also argue that same back up QB was so bad, Calgary was forced to play Bo when he was injured.
How can both those things be true ?

Don’t worry, I don’t expect an answer. I know you tend to run away from these questions that expose your wrongs.

Your world is a riddle manyhandles. I personally have never indicated that Buckley was useless, but you just did. I’m guessing your coaching staff must have had concerns or else they would have put somebody in before Mevi was “forced to play hurt”

Also…..I’ve never run from anything your sorry ass brings up, as you never have a valid point. As noted above with vert, and several other people who post on here – you are the one who runs and hides when cornered with your traditional “have a nice day”

I bet at this point you slam your juice box down and throw your pillows around your dark room until your mom tells you to grow up (like that will ever happen)

Area51 and several others answered why Reilly is a leader and Mevi is not. And when you h don’t like what you hear…it’s “have a nice day” Don’t throw your pillows

Your Riders would love to have the kind of “average” season Bo had, Yup. Led his team to a 13-4-1 record, a QB Rating of 96.9 (which, I’ll admit, *is* pretty average, but it still beats your hero Darian’s career best QB rating of 95.7), and represented the West for the third time since your Riders were even considered “relevant”. You guys are so desperate for some kind of validation that you actually have to point to other teams’ quarterbacks just to find someone who can hold a candle to Mitchell, and keep spouting about how your team “owned” Calgary during a glorified exhibition game.

Well George….not looking for validation, just pointing out a few things to your pal. As for saying you were “owned”…certainly not a quote of mine, I would have used destroyed but what ever floats your boat, as it was after all a nothing game you chose to play an injured QB in. Anyhoo….the point was Reilly is a motivator, Mevi not so much.

Reilly is tough, but he’s not stupid, Yup. Even he would know better than to risk injury by pursuing a defender in a meaningless game. Especially since he’s missed at least one Grey Cup appearance due to a broken ankle.

The fact is, it doesn’t matter what Bo does. The stamps could have won the last 2 cups and ridernation would say “His teammates bailed him out” and “he threw a Hail Mary at the end and was lucky his receiver caught it”
Bo could save a family from a burning building and you’d call him a coward for not going back and saving the family goldfish.

I know this because I lived in Calgary in the 1980’s

Gretzky scored 50 goals in 39 games- didn’t matter he sucked.
The Oilers were the dominate team in Hockey- didn’t matter they sucked and Calgary was better.

It’s hard to accept when your most hated rival is clearly heads and shoulders above you. It’s hard to accept that Bo just turned 28 and still hasn’t reached the pinnacle of what he can be. He has 10 years plus left in this league.
I don’t blame you for taking every little error Bo might make and turning it into an exaggeration, it’s all part of your copping mechanism. As is praying for the unlikely revival of Zack Collaros career and thinking 11 for 21 in a playoff game is the sign of a winning QB.
You guys do what you need to do to survive the next decade. Just show us Stamps fans the respect we have earned.

It’s not the Stampeders or the fans in Calgary that I have a problem with. One of several issues here, is your pompous, braggadocious attitude and mind numbingly ridiculous BS that never ends. I live in Calgary, so I have friends, and know Alumni, who I can have healthy rivalries with. You are so far out there it’s beyond comprehension.

You have a very sick and twisted obsession with the Riders, and you piss me off as you ruin every thread. It could have nothing to do with the Riders, or Stamps, yet you always make it about you. You have zero class and have hit seriously low levels when commenting on tragic events, on more than one occasion. You went from mildly annoying last year, to a complete whack job.

Then you are so daft as to ask for some sort of recognition from people whom have no respect for you ?? Ain’t gonna happen !!!!

Nick Foles was the Winning Super Bowl QB last season. Doesn’t mean he is better. Bo is not better than Rielly. Rielly was voted MOP for a reason. For Leadership, toughness and gameplay. He, IMO, was the only QB who could have carried that injured type of team that far. Mitchell, needs a strong team at all times, if he was in Montreal, they go 0-18 last season.

Red, I think BLM is a good QB. Probably in the top 5 in the league. Personally I would take Reilly over him. Just the style I like more; the grit and toughness, and leading by example. Carrying his team on his back. It’s his entire career to date that people appreciate. Not just comparing the 2 last year post season. My opinion. But he’s no Gretzky. That was hilarious.

lol Top 5?
Please, he’s top 2
I’m not taking anything away from Reilly. He’s a great player, tough as hell, a great leader and classy- I still remember he was signing autographs for Eskimo fans as the Stamps were being presented with the Western Champions trophy last November- class act
Bo is 5 years younger and still has more upside, given his current success, imagine what he can be like in his early 30’s when he’s at his peak!

Again, my opinion. I would take Reilly, Ray, and Durant over him. My apologies for having an opinion. I was just telling you who I preferred. Still, BLM is no Gretzky, not even close. That would be Tom Brady.

RED listen and learn from the true stamps fans. Instead of trolling Rider articles or changing a stamps article like this to one about the Riders, you could just be a fan of the stamps.
My comments is that though stamps have a good next guy up system, these loses this year will hurt them a lot. If BLM goes down, season is done.